for people who care about the West

The theology of growth

The West has long been shaped by human migrations,
and the inevitable melding — and clashing — of
cultures. That’s no less true today than it was in the days
of tribal warfare or gold panning. In fact, it is probably more so.

Americans have flocked to the Interior West in recent
years to escape the crowded coastal cities, to find work, or to
claim a piece of Western paradise. Migrant workers cross the
deserts to the south, both legally and illegally, to pick our
fruit, butcher our beef, cook our food, tend our lawns, watch our
children. Tourists traipse through our towns, and we happily
relieve them of every possible dime.

In Utah, this story
of migration, growth and culture clash comes into striking focus.
Over the past century and a half, Utah’s boosters have built
an economic and spiritual machine, and a brand that has drawn
pilgrims from the world over. Mexicans have come seeking economic
opportunity. Afghanis, Somalis and Bosnians have come seeking
refuge from wars.

But perhaps the biggest driver of
growth in Utah is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The church’s army of missionaries is saving souls around the
globe, making Mormonism one of today’s fastest-growing
religions. Many of its converts, from Central America, South
America and especially Polynesia, have left poverty- and
violence-stricken cities and villages to take part in building this
new place.

Within many Mormon families, growth continues
to be the driving philosophy, too. Some still branch their trees a
dozen limbs at a time. But the Mormon Zion, as this issue’s
cover story shows, is not immune to the problems that plague other
growing cities. Parts of the Salt Lake Valley are now home to a
suburban wasteland, where L.A.-style gang violence rages.

One of the ironies — and tragedies — of this story lies
in the fact that many gang members are in Utah because of the
church. Their parents were converts who came to the holy land. But
while the church has helped create this mess, it has done little to
help clean it up. Church higher-ups have opted to leave the gang
problem in the hands of neighborhood and local church leaders, who
are clearly overwhelmed.

The problem of gang violence in
Salt Lake offers a disturbing glimpse into Utah’s conflicted
soul: The state continues to pack more people into its desert
cities, but is slow to deal with the consequences. Salt Lake is
also a mirror for cities around the West, which are stoking the
fires of growth, while failing to see that as their populations
boom, some Westerners are getting burned.